Taylor 214ce vs Guild OM-150ce | Mid-Sized Acoustic Comparison
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- If you've got around $1000 to spend on a quality acoustic that hits all the marks (cutaway, electronics, spruce/rosewood), which do you go for? Take a listen to these two guitars from Taylor & Guild and let us know which one fits you the best.
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Love my 214ce that I got from Alamo Music. Thought about upgrading but I'm so happy with this guitar, that there is no need to change it for another.
I bought a 214ce recently as well. Upgrading from that point is pretty much just aesthetics. Playability, tone.. and comfort would be extremely similar in comparison with something in the 400 model range for example.
I just bought one myself. The jumbo. I think it's an awesome guitar!
I am getting a 214ce as well. I have heard people complain about the ES2 system. What is your take on that? In case I want to record it using DI, are there any changes I need to make for a better whole sound?
@@yondaimehokage697 For my purposes I have no problem with the pickup system. I mainly use this guitar unplugged.
I own several Guilds and Taylors, love all of them. If you want bright pick the Taylor, if warm (sweet) is your thing then go Guild. As I listened to the demo I favored the Guild not only for the tone but also for the smaller and thinner body.
The Guild is quite nice at that price point. Two other guitars in this same price range well worth checking out are the Yamaha's LL16 & LS16 models. Phenomenal instruments!
Don't forget the Yamaha FGX3 with their Atmosfeel pickup. That's going for 1050 these days.
I have an LL16 and it's good but I had a Guild D-50 that blew it away. American made Guilds are really good. It's too bad they're fairly expensive.
@@DesertScorpionKSA with more than double the money . Buy a LL26 and we talking
@@phanhuyduc2395 The LL26 looks nice but here in the USA they aren't cheaper than an American made Guild D-40. I do like Yamaha guitars though.
Currently, it's Yamaha who makes Guild guitars so...
Good point about the strings! As a back-up guitar I recently bought a fantastic Richwood D60, but the strings were rough and because of that I needed to do more effort to move my fingers over the strings and it made a much louder scratchy sound than with Elixirs. This reduced the playability and the my enjoyment of the guitar for me. It turned out the strings were d'Addario EXP-16... I immediately replaced them with Elixirs and now the guitar sounds and plays better. Thanks for this video!
Longtime Taylor owner here, but I would go with the Guild. I think you're getting more guitar for the money because of the all-solid woods, and the sound is a bit warmer (even though Taylor has a more clear, bright, focused sound). In any case, you're not going to go wrong with either of these.
I have the 214, bought in 2020 and I'm still certain I bought the right guitar. It's awesome. I also own a Guild F4 which isn't comparable as it's much thinner and was made in 1997 back when Guilds were made in the USA and by a company named Guild. In this video, the Taylor is brighter than the Guild. Taylors are known for that. The Guild is warmer. They're both great guitars that will improve with time and the more you play them.
I think Taylor is the safer purchase if you're buying online without being able to test drive it. Taylor's quality is extremely consistent.
I think the Guild sounds warmer.
#duh!
@@terrymattingly6843 really? I’m a beginner so excuse me for trying to learn by ear.
I think that the Taylor sounds like it is wearing a down filled jacket and wrapped in a blanket. You are correct.
Agreed, but the chime and ringing tone of the Taylor is always what attracts me to them.
It's also a big reason why people like them. They are more able to cut through a dense mix. I think if you are a solo singer songwriter type, buy something warmer sounding, more neutral. However if you play with others, a Taylor has that cut that you actually want to hear.
Man that Taylor sounds way better in my book. Thanks for the demo!
The playability of the Taylor and the sound of the Taylor is for me.
I prefer the more narrow neck of 214. Feels comfortable for me and makes me play differently than how I play with my takamine. I prefer the satin finish of 214ce also. Also I liked the bright sound. I knew that it would be my guitar from the moment I grabbed the neck and played it on my lap. I chose this over more expensive Taylors from the 3 and 4 series.
I own three Taylor's one is the 214 ce plus, and I love it
Had a 214 ..real nice but traded upward, About two years ago bought the Guild..Love it...hard to beat solid rosewood,, I put XTs on Guild 150 Jumbo..great string and great pairing for these instruments.
After trying both - and also a Maton SRS60C I immediately put the Taylor aside. Eventually walked out with the Guild for now, but may save up and go get the Maton too - a very different guitar but equally awesome.
Everyone has a different ear and style. My Larrivee D 10 is so deep, clear and awesome sustain, just wish I could find that same sound and projection in a slightly body
Slightly smaller and thinner body
I have a 214 ce plus ,i love it
I like both sounds unplugged. But I would go for the Taylor for the pickup system.
The tailor Is definitely brighter and a little louder Personally I went with the Guild USA M40 The setup was perfect and I changed the strings The day after I bought it and put on my favorite Martin Custom light 11 to 52 phosphor bronze I like the slightly smaller body and the shorter scale length and she resonates forever
Hey Chris, watch you & Cooper all the time. You do a fantastic job with these reviews. Keep up the great work. ❤
Another good video demonstrating to closely competitive products - I thought the Taylor sounded better, but you say the Guild has a fuller sound - and you were there in person which mean something. I own a 1975 Guild D-35NT made in the Westerly RI plant - so I wanted the Guild to win - and I agree with your take on strings - maybe you should have improved the setup on the Guild before playing (although I appreciate you are showing them as they come from the factory) - so ... nicely done. JR
Guild all the way!... heck I'm gonna go buy one! Tires of my old bright Seagul S6 /// That Guild Fingerpicking TONE took my breath away. THAT's gonna be a songwriting dreamscape
I prefer the sound of the Guild.
I like the Guild because it looks gorgeous and sounds warmer. The Taylor is cool, I tried a builders edition in a shop the other day and it was beautiful. Saving up for one.
To my ears...its not even close...Guild for the win
I own a 214ce and a F150 guild, so not same body shape, but from a sound standpoint both have their strenghts. For sure the guild needed a full set up and i put Dadarrio XS on it, and actually now use them on all my acoustics. Great guitar at the price point as is Martin road serie D10E all sapele which I have.
Where the Taylor have a nice mid scoop with the layered (!) Rosewood back&sides, the Guild have a more mid bump wihch I don't like. A solid Rosewood body can sound WAY better than this Guild does imho. Just my 2 cts. Nice comparison Mr. McKee, thank you sir.
Interesting. Love the way you demo - using a range of pieces with different techniques but same pieces back-to-back for each. Good too that you consistently use the same pieces for instrument demos on other vids.
The Guild sounds "dead" on the low end to me: almost a muffled bass. That could be the strings. The Taylor sounded brighter on the top end too.
You sounded more nimble on the Taylor, which string diff would affect so it's good you pointed out the difference.
Playability & adjustability is huge: the bolt-on neck is a major plus. Only guitar brand as consistently playable as Taylor out of the box is Godin (in fact, I found it better so bought Godin) & Godin also uses a bolt-on neck. Not apples-to-apples: I ended up with a semi-hollow body "electric nylon" Godin, not a folk steel-string guitar, because I so loved the playability & wider neck.
Taylor offers the 214ce in nylon too (I just couldn't find stock at the time). I've played Martins, Guild, Cordoba, Ibanez, Yamaha; had an Ovation for decades: Taylor & Godin pay insane attention to ensuring playability at all price points. To a degree other manufacturers can't seem to match.
I'd like to see this channel do comparisons between equivalent Taylor & Godin guitars.
Thank you. The Guild is warmer but more muted. The Taylor is bright and rich. I like the look of the Guild better. Based on the video, I prefer the Taylor.but, I can get the Guild in Portugal for €874. Taylor is €1099. Pretty big difference. I just moved to Portugal from San Antonio.
I liked the Guild's tone slightly better but I probably would buy the Taylor because of the thinner neck and playability.
One reason I bought the Taylor is; I've watched all these comparisons and got good advice from trusted RUclips guitarists and when I go to look them up, no left handed versions. Was even looking into the Martin 00 series and it would take many months to order and no returns on it. Makes the choice almost automatic. I know there are a few left handed companies that sell some, (Yamaha 4, but they all were not what I wanted) and I wanted a trusted company and trusted build that is Taylor seeing I'm buying online. You mentioned you have many Taylors so you choice to buy the Guild if you had to choose makes sense.
Great playing and demo! I am looking at the Guild and did prefer the warmth and resonance of solid rosewood, plus my fat fingers definitely prefer the 1.75” nut. For me it’s a no brainer, and the Guild’s spruce looks like it’s thermo cured or nicely toned to give a darker almost cedar-like appearance. Taylor sounds good, but my ears favor the Guild.
Thank you for the video. I’ve owned a 114 and 214. Great guitars, but I found them a little too bright for me. Their pickup system is outstanding, and the guitars set up well. I prefer a 1-3/4” nut.
The Guild sounded a little warmer to me and I like the OM shape better.I have had several import Guilds but not this model, and I experienced some build qualities.
For the money, I think I’d go with a Yamaha over either of these. The LS16 is a really nice guitar for similar money.
Thank you for your videos
I have both a Taylor 214ce deluxe and a Guild GAD50. I like both guitars but I find the 1 11/16 nut width narrow making it less enjoyable to play than the Guild. Although they both play and sound well the Guild has a warmer tone which I especially like for playing ballads. Strings are never an issue, after all they get changed often and like all things, sound is subjective. In my opinion, a Guild acoustic will hold its own against any other guitar in its price range and beyond. I use Elixer lights on the Taylor and Martin SG on the Guild and the SG strings really bring out the sound on the Guild. That in particular Guild your playing could likely use a simple truss rod adjustment. Bottom line, I would choose the Guild
He is absolutely right about the guild. It needs a new set of strings and a setup of the thruss rod. But if you fix that, it will be just perfect.
To me, the Taylor is a vanilla latte, sweet and bright, and the Guild is a hazelnut latte, woody and rich. Both fantastic, it's just a matter of what you prefer. Also, I wouldn't worry AT ALL about strings or set up, as a set up to your preference and installing your preferred string model and gauge should be automatic if you're spending this much on a guitar.
Guild kicked its butt
I have a solid spruce top with koa back and sides 214ce and love the sound and playability. It's my favorite acoustic.
In other demos the Koa sound deeper than the Rosewood. Would you agree? I bought the lefty Koa version. Waiting on shipment.
@@teleguy5699 Since the back and sides of the 214ce are layered (vs. solid) koa, I'm not sure if layered rosewood would sound much different. Someone with detailed knowledge of guitar construction can probably give you a better answer.
@@stoopotts6908 One would think that, but on "Acoustic Letter" YT channel there was a distinct tonal difference between the 3 models they demo'd, (although they did more talking than playing sadly). The player mentioned the lower end on the Koa and I could hear it. ruclips.net/video/99S7Q-ch1y8/видео.html I know it's through digital RUclips and these are the DLX models, but I have excellent computer speakers and I could tell a slight deference. Who knows? It could have been the top wood characteristics causing it too or the density of the polar core. Happy playing.
@@teleguy5699 There may be more to it then. Thanks for the information!
@@stoopotts6908 You're welcome.
I played a Guild 240ce yesterday, holy buckets!
I heard the difference immediately and guessed it was the strings. I have that particular Taylor and it played great " straight out of the box". My rosewood is more straight grained but that guitar you played sounded just as good as mine. I can't handle a 1 3/4" nut, so my preference, even blindfolded, would be the feel of the narrower Taylor nut ; but , whatever you like is your choice. Cheers from Oz.
Coming from a 1.685" (42.8 mm) Telecaster this should be wide enough. Would you agree? I know the strings are different. First acoustic.
Unlike the imported models, the US made Guilds have a 1 & 11/16" nut width and a 12" (instead of the import's flatter 16") fretboard radius making them easy to play.
@@bobaldo2339 The 214 has the same nut width.
@@teleguy5699 My comment was about Guilds, US made vs imports.
@@bobaldo2339 Oh, sorry. I thought you meant Taylors. My bad.
I love my Guild D-150ce but yes it needed a slight setup and new strings but the sound and overall look is just perfect. The only Taylor I have is a GS Mini. It has that signature Taylor sound but at times it’s that annoying loud kid in class.
Not a singles doubt. Taylor is the best in this case. 🔥
Both are very nice sounding guitars. The Guild sounds a bit warmer.
i would go with the taylor
I actually like the tone in the Guild
for its price the guild is a winner !
I prefer the Taylor for volume and better construction.
Wow! The Guild did NOT sound like a Redwood guitar to me. Except for the last finger-picking exercise, the Taylor sounded more resonant and Redwood-like to me. I am a fan of both Taylor and Guild, owning a pretty old D-35, as well as several Taylors from a 224ce to 811e.
Do you mean rosewood?
@@DesertScorpionKSA yes, sorry, I did mean rosewood! Thanks!
I played a lot of top dollar guitars because I buy an sell
but just my opinion I played a 500 dollar guild I thought it was better than a 1000 dollar Taylor but it’s just my opinion
I’m excited because I’m gonna buy a guild I been saving for a while every time I sell I been putting a few dollars away now I’m finally ready to get a guitar
I’m just excited because I never owned a 1000 dollar guitar because all the ones I’ve had i got to buy and sell but this one I’m gonna keep for myself I’m just waiting for the holiday to see if I’ll get one on sale or whenever they have a sale going on
When I went to the music store the guild I played I couldn’t stop playing it to me it was fantastic
I prefer the Taylor, just that lil bit more.
I prefer the bright sound of Taylor acoustics
The Takamine GN77KCE is also a very good sounding guitar at only $800
I like the Guild for sound and nut width
I think you play very well.
just bought a guild om150ce for $649 brand new 2 weeks ago at GC.
How do you like it?
I’ve tried D’addario XP’s in the past. They’re not good. The new XS strings are much better. In fact it’s difficult to tell the difference from Elixers. If I have a choice I don’t buy anything made in China. That’s more of a political decision than the quality of the product. Taylor owns their Mexican factory therefore they have total control over the quality of the build. I’ve had a 100 series and it was a great guitar. Listening on my iPad with airpod pros I thought the Taylor was a touch brighter with more articulate mids. Could be the the strings. I am a Taylor fan. I believe Andy Powers is a guitar genius. I base this partially on his latest creations. I have a GT urban ash! Enough said! 214ce hands down!
Taylor has great resonance but Guild has more clarity and just a sweeter sound. The Guild also come with a double truss rod and you can adjust the neck in setup...along with the stings if you don't like them.
I have watched you test the guild guitars and I know you own a lot of Taylor guitars, but do you own any guild guitars
My ears preferred the guild.
Wondering what you think about Taylor switching string make.
Guild sounds like high quality all wood guitar should. Its size is much better for finger style performance
I like the 214 better. It sounds crisper without being scratchy.. purely preference.. and I like the elixir strings also
19:36
I think Taylor 210 CE sound's better than the two. A Bit warmer than the 214
What about guild D-150ce
Guild all day
I think that when recording it would be easier to make the Taylor sound like the Guild than the other way around…
Agree 100% about the strings. I have had to setup every guitar but 1
Taylor doesn’t stock elixir anymore on there guitars
Guild has a rosewood fretboard and bridge not ebony
Yamaha FSX3 for $1000 winner!
Guild sounds better to me. For an OM, what about a Bluetidge BR-63 Sitka top, Santos Rosewood back and sides (1 11/16" nut)? Thanks Chris
@@texhaines9957 I agree. The Guild sounded better in the video. Never played a Blueridge. I'd be intrigued. There's so many options for $1K these days. There's also Eastman, Alvarez, the new Epiphone inspired series.
@@chrischoemortgage Eastman AC622ce is also good but Eastman has a Limited AC422ce LTD with Eucalyptus back and sides that has a voice between mahogany and Rosewood that would fit also.
Sadly, no lefty for the Yamaha or Guild so it kind of severely limits my choices. Nice that Taylor makes as many lefty's as they do.
What about the Martin GPC 11E?
Sure, the Guild has that “Made in Asia” gloopy warm finish niceness to it, and the Taylor is built to a brighter purpose in Mexico. Move Guild production from China to Indonesia and ease up on the plastic finish and I would be happy to buy one. I stopped buying China guitars years ago. China anything in fact, if I can help it. 😊
Hi
I have the taylo and have noticed the back and front of the guitar have a rise in the body, particularly the back, can you explain please.
Most acoustic guitars will have a slight rise near the bridge area. It generally isn’t a problem…unless there is a problem. I’ll leave it to someone with more tech knowledge to speak to those situations. One easy to spot sign that there is too much bellying on the top is if the bridge is separating from the top.
As for the back, Taylor (and Guild actually) intentionally build an arch into the backs of their layered/laminate models. It adds strength and can eliminate the need for additional bracing in that area. It also produces a bit of a bowl effect and “pushes” the sound out.
I might be wrong but it looks to me like a high humidity case. Guitars should be in an environment where relative humidity is 40-60%. Humidity in my area is pretty high, so I keep my Taylor inside its gig bag, with two bags of dehumidifiers that I change every so often based on my hygrometer readings.
So I suggest you to take your guitar to a good luthier, he/she should mesure humidity, and dry or humidify your guitar depending on what it needs. The luthier should also teach you how to take proper care of your guitar based on the wheather in your area.
Guild sounded more balanced to my ears
The guild has the bettertone. I knoe Alamo sells mostly Taylor, but they are high priced Laminates, form$1600 Taylor coukd sell an all wood guitar, so i thibk it is a Choice of profit over substance. Having had 3 Taylors, they are no longer the easy sell they once were, I think the tone id the reason, other guitar manufacturers are Surpassing them. Same happened to Fender, nash, Suhr and many others make a Better fender than Fender.
I can tell you are pushing the guild
What model starts all solid wood for Taylor
300 series
@@sochas American Dreams, too. AD17 on sale for @ $1200 as I write this.
@@jimmerritt1171 you are right, when I wrote the comment I was not yet familiar with the AD series.
@@sochas I hope I didn't come off as "correcting." I was just perplexed to see that some models had come down $400, the GT series, too.
@@jimmerritt1171 I did not understand it as a correction. My English skill is low and perhaps my comment was misunderstood. In Europe the prices are not so good, in my opinion the AD17E is very good value for money.
The 2024 214 now has a baked top (torrified). It sounds great - adds a bit of warmth.
You should have put new strings on both before comparing them.
Seems something is very wrong with the strings on the Guild...
The Taylor obviously sounds like a Taylor, which is not a bad thing.
All in all, I still like the Guild better...
@@timnewman1172 I used to have a Guild all mahogany and I would love to have one again if I could raise the funds but heart surgery is expensive.
Layered?
Yes. Several layers of wood glued together. If you wanted to make it seem bad you might say plywood. Cheaper and more durable than solid wood.
The Taylor sounds brighter, more volume (as a 214ce dlx owner - with an upgrade bone saddle, I am probably prejudice). PS next video DITCH the distracting oscilloscope in the background.
Yes please!
Guild
Guild.
i played both today and the guild blew the taylor out the water, no comparison
out of the box my 214 ce is unplayable trash I can tell you straight up/dontknow if it needs a set up but you all should tell people that.
So many backhanded comments. Interesting., I’ll never buy either.
I've had the 150ce for 2 years now and absolutely love it. It sounds great, plays great, and the quality is excellent
@@kevins.8677 Right on. What do you think about his criticisms?
I definitely had mine set up immediately but it was not bad at all. Since the setup it is perfect and is my go to acoustic over my martin, which is a Mexican martin ce all solid dreadnought. It really plays well above the price tag. But I also got mine for under $650 brand new from pro audiostar. I'm pretty sure they had it mispriced lol!
Great review as always. I would have to play each of them and see what fell out to my ears.
So many snarky from you. Why comment? People have different tastes and different price points. This is not to sound confrontational but every guitar demo YT page always seems to have a snobby comment that belittles people who genuinely enjoy the guitars demo'd. Yes you are entitled to your comments but to me, It's a turn off for new players trying to find their way and sound which I am one. Many times that person will roll out 3 to 4 thousand dollar models to get and even if that was one I wanted they don't have left handed versions.
Guild all the way. Guilds are great guitars. Taylor's are too bright. Kind of the latest fad.
Taylor sounds thin
I have a 100 dollar guitar abused that plays better than the taylor out of the box I hop it's just a set up
The guild definitely had more depth & warmth, but $1,050 plus the cost of a setup, for a guitar made with forced labor, is a bummer for me, when I can find a quality, USA-made solid wood guitar, used, in very good to excellent condition, for close to the same price. I picked up a Bend, OR made Breedlove that sounds better than both of those guitars, for $950, and the guitar was in excellent condition. I'll take it all day over either the Guild or the Taylor.
Am pretty sure Breedloves (Discovery, Pursuit, etc) come from China or South Korea. I have an. Oregon Burst, sitka & myrtlewood, listed for @ $2k
@@jimmerritt1171 their cheaper lines do, & I wouldn’t buy one. My Breedlove Oregon series made in Bend, OR originally sold for $2k as well but I picked it up used in excellent condition for $950 & they sell for $1,200-$1,400 used on Reverb
Forced labor, wtf are you talking about?
Mexico is hopeless at building guitars!
That’s a silly comment. You can make good and bad guitars in any country.
I've played more mediocre Gibsons than 100 and 200 series Taylors though... so much for American-made being better.
My 214CE and 254Ce DLX match my American guitars worth 2-3 times as much when it comes to finish, setup, and playability. In electrics, my Tele MIM is as comfortable as my others despite being the cheapest one.
@@johnnewton1830 It sounded racist af to me. Same equipment and a 60 miles drive? And I don't even want to go to the "only difference is where the Mexican made it" route. Taylors are highly automated in production and it's the same equipment the US factory has. Just the components and woods differ sometimes. Look at Mexican made Fenders. Great guitars. Plus, Spain/Mexico's heritage is the guitar. What culture would know about guitars than Hispanic?
@@EveningCrow did you see that video where they cut the Gibson G-45 in half? So much for "American Quality". ruclips.net/video/wP3_TY69bAM/видео.html Also you are 100% right on Mexican Fenders.
The Martins built in Mexico are fine.
Guild ✌
The NT joint would be great if only Taylor allowed users to access the adjusting shims without having to go through a network of taylor authorised techs, which is quite frankly very expensive.
I believe you can purchase the shims from Stew Mac.
But if you DIY you can void your warranty.
Also, I think Taylor will replace them for free as long as the guitar is still under warranty. I’ve had it done once.
You can take it to the dealer you bought it from to find out.
@@robertmoriarty925 Thanks for the reply but unfortunatley not always easy. In Eurpoe the warranty is only 12 years and that only applies to new purchases. 2nd hand is even harder as there's no warranty cover at all. I don't think simple resets are covered anyway. I have a number of Taylors which are still covered by warranty but the dealer went bust and authorised techs are few and far between in the UK. meaning high shipping costs at some risk. Stew Mac do sell neck shims but I don't think they do Taylor ones which require 'angled' pairs. Taylor make fantastic guitars, with a very good neck design, but seem overly protective on letting shims into the hands of the regular public. I've never accepted the argument that non techs can't fix their own guitars, after all they own them and should accept responsibility if they screw up, if that voids the warranty so be it. I much prefer my Taylors to Martin but it's so much easier with a Martin, getting a new saddle, filing it down and just popping it in the slot. The standard Taylor saddle is just too shallow on the treble side to allow to do that. The only hope is that one day, someone in the far east will realise there's a demand for Taylor style shims and good old ebay will come to the rescue..
It sounds like you have a lot of experience with these things.
When I said Stew Mac had the shims, I just based it on a video by Driftwood Guitars where he mentioned that you could do a DIY neck reset on a Taylor and get the shims from Stew Mac. So, I really don’t know first hand. I hope you find a good source and don’t have to go through such a hassle in the future Best of luck to you!
Daddario xs phosphorus bronze strings are the best they now come 80/20. If the saddle is tusq it gets replaced with bone and xs strings.
I had a BB Taylor that sucked. The playability was not good. I shimmed the neck with a credit card. Played pretty good after the shim job and I got rid of it.